City Landmark – Nehru’s Red Rose, Teen Murti Bhawan
The Prime Minister’s flower. [Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi] Both Jawaharlal Nehru and Babur shared a passion for the rose. The first Mughal emperor not only composed a poem on gul, Persian for rose, but also made sure…
City Landmark – Mahatta & Co, Connaught Place
The original photoshop. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Not a moment to spare. A constant stream of customers through the door. Some wanting to get their portrait done, others their photos developed. Some inquire about cameras. Maharani Gayatri…
City Landmark – Ambedkar’s House, 26, Alipur Road
The withdrawn address. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] Note down the address: 26, Alipur Road. Get off at the Civil Lines Metro station. Walk past the Oberoi Maidens Hotel. The house is on the left. The gates are…
City Landmark – Radhey Shyam’s Ironing Service, Nizamuddin East
A family tradition. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] He is the iron man of Nizamuddin East. Actually there are six of them in this central Delhi neighourbood. Radhey Shyam lords over C Block, which is home to writers,…
City Landmark – Deserted Bungalow, Connaught Place
Space and the city. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] There is a rare bungalow on Tolstoy Lane, a pedestrian-friendly street in the colonial-era business district of central Delhi’s Connaught Place. Nobody lives in the house. The only inhabitants…
City Landmark – Amrit Book Company, Connaught Place
Surviving, for now. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] This bookshop is a great spot for another Starbucks. (Connaught Place has just two Bucks so far.) The display counter will take over the left-side book shelves. The Classics corner…
City Landmark – Indira Gandhi’s Bungalow, Safdarjung Road
The queen’s white house. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] One small group of women is wearing saris, Gujarati style. Another group is chattering in Bengali. A third group of women, with jasmine flowers in their hair, is clearly…
City Landmark – Indian National Flag, Central Park
People’s republic of flagistan. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The largest in India, this national flag is larger than a badminton court. You can spot it from Kasturba Gandhi Marg, or from the samosa stand outside The Embassy…
City Landmark – Bharat Hair Dresser, Khan Market
Small wonder. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The old Khan Market exists in memories alone. Sovereign Dairies has closed. Raj Sweet Shop has closed. Empire Stores has closed. Caryhom Ice Cream has closed. Modern Hair Dressers has closed….
City Landmark – Aleksandr Pushkin, Mandi House
The Russian abroad. [Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi] The Moscow-born Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin seems at home in Delhi. The Russian poet’s statue stands high on one side of central Delhi’s Mandi House traffic square. The statue is so…
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